DAVENPORT, Iowa — Community members gathered at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities on Sunday to hold a vigil for Sonya Massey, the Illinois woman shot and killed by a deputy after calling 911 for help.
Since her death, family members said Massey struggled with mental health issues. 911 calls in the days leading up to her death include one from Massey's mom, Donna Massey, saying that her daughter was suffering a “mental breakdown." Donna is heard telling the dispatcher, “I don't want you guys to hurt her.” She adds that she fears the police and asks that no officer who is “prejudiced" be sent.
Quad Cities Interfaith board member Janice Harris-Williams testified on Massey's behalf during the vigil as an individual who also struggles with mental health. During the vigil, she explained that she struggles with paranoid schizophrenia and wants to be able to feel safe calling on the police if she needs it.
Harris-Williams said she's had positive interactions with police and added she trusted cops, even posting a picture with police officers on Facebook despite receiving backlash because of previous police violence in the Black community. However, now, she is feeling confused.
“They’re not all like that, but at the same time, it sets fear in me … first they’re nice to me and then this happens to her [Massey]," Harris-WIlliams said.
Harris-Williams believes police need to be better trained to handle situations where mental health is a factor, as well as have deeper background checks for cops.
"You can have a mental illness and still be treated fairly. Not let it end in your life being taken," Harris-Williams said.
This vigil was not just to call attention to police violence surrounding Black women with mental health issues but was for all Black men and women who have experienced violence at the hands of law enforcement.
During the vigil, Arayah Westmoreland spoke the names of Black women who have been victims of police violence since 2019.
“This is something that’s going on in this world, and in this nation over and over and over again — and people sometimes forget or neglect that this is happening and we cannot let this happen anymore and let this continue," Westmoreland said. “The passings of Black beautiful women, the passings of Black beautiful men. The discrimination it is insane and cruel.”
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel